Haunted house movies have been a cinema staple for well over a century. Lorimer Johnston, Buster Keaton, D. W. Griffith, and Elliott Nugent all knocked on the creaky doors of the subgenre well before film married even sound. It’s a familiar trope, one that has permeated our culture for a very long time. Naturally, as timeless tropes are wont to do, countless filmmakers and writers have added their own signature, and The Changeling is one such example.
Perhaps the greatest? That’s what the Halloweenies debate in their exhaustive breakdown of Peter Medak‘s 1980 masterpiece. Starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, and Melvyn Douglas, the “true story” follows a renown composer, who moves to Seattle from New York City following the deaths of his wife and daughter. The historic society gives him the keys to a dusty mansion, and he soon discovers there’s more than his music floating within its halls.
Perhaps the greatest? That’s what the Halloweenies debate in their exhaustive breakdown of Peter Medak‘s 1980 masterpiece. Starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, and Melvyn Douglas, the “true story” follows a renown composer, who moves to Seattle from New York City following the deaths of his wife and daughter. The historic society gives him the keys to a dusty mansion, and he soon discovers there’s more than his music floating within its halls.
- 10/2/2023
- by Michael Roffman
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Vincent Price Collection
Blu ray
1960,’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’71 / 79, 85, 87, 90, 86, 94 min. / 2.35 : 1, 1:85:1
Starring Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, Hazel Court
Cinematography by Floyd Crosby, Nicolas Roeg,
John Coquillon, Norman Warwick
Directed by Roger Corman, Michael Reeves, Robert Fuest
The Vincent Price Collection, the first in a series of Blu-ray sets celebrating the beloved actor’s glory days, arrived in 2013. They sold like hot cakes, quickly going out of print only to pop up on eBay with price tags that would make Bill Gates tremble. That initial release has just been reissued and is a near-duplicate of the original. All the films are here including The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Haunted Palace, Witchfinder General, and The Abominable Dr. Phibes. But there are changes—the Poe-related intros Price recorded for a PBS affiliate have been removed due to rights issues. And something new has been added; The Masque of the Red Death,...
Blu ray
1960,’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’71 / 79, 85, 87, 90, 86, 94 min. / 2.35 : 1, 1:85:1
Starring Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, Hazel Court
Cinematography by Floyd Crosby, Nicolas Roeg,
John Coquillon, Norman Warwick
Directed by Roger Corman, Michael Reeves, Robert Fuest
The Vincent Price Collection, the first in a series of Blu-ray sets celebrating the beloved actor’s glory days, arrived in 2013. They sold like hot cakes, quickly going out of print only to pop up on eBay with price tags that would make Bill Gates tremble. That initial release has just been reissued and is a near-duplicate of the original. All the films are here including The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Haunted Palace, Witchfinder General, and The Abominable Dr. Phibes. But there are changes—the Poe-related intros Price recorded for a PBS affiliate have been removed due to rights issues. And something new has been added; The Masque of the Red Death,...
- 10/3/2020
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
This obscure 1972 thriller features excellent performances by Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, and marks the feature debut of the great director Michael Apted. The wartime home front drama takes a surprisingly precocious and sensitive view of a bizarre incident that probably happened in real life: to escape his military service, a reluctant soldier cross-dresses as a woman.
The Triple Echo
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1972 / Color / 1:85 / 94 min. / Soldier in Skirts / Street Date March 25, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £18.36
Starring: Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Brian Deacon, Anthony May, Gavin Richards, Jenny Lee Wright.
Cinematography: John Coquillon
Film Editor: Barrie Vince
Original Music: Mark Wilkinson
Written by Robin Chapman, from the story by H.E. Bates
Produced by Graham Cottle
Directed by Michael Apted
Billy Wilder would have given the makers of The Triple Echo cautioning advice about putting male actors in drag and passing them off as women: it’s a...
The Triple Echo
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1972 / Color / 1:85 / 94 min. / Soldier in Skirts / Street Date March 25, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £18.36
Starring: Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Brian Deacon, Anthony May, Gavin Richards, Jenny Lee Wright.
Cinematography: John Coquillon
Film Editor: Barrie Vince
Original Music: Mark Wilkinson
Written by Robin Chapman, from the story by H.E. Bates
Produced by Graham Cottle
Directed by Michael Apted
Billy Wilder would have given the makers of The Triple Echo cautioning advice about putting male actors in drag and passing them off as women: it’s a...
- 3/26/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Straw Dogs
Blu-ray
Criterion
1971 / 1:85 / Street Date June 27, 2017
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Susan George
Cinematography: John Coquillon
Film Editors: Paul Davies, Tony Lawson, Roger Spottiswoode
Written by David Zelag Goodman and Sam Peckinpah
Produced by Daniel Melnick
Music: Jerry Fielding
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Adrift from civilization, an attractive young couple find themselves threatened, assaulted, and eventually compelled to defend themselves in a bloody showdown. That is the basic premise of Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs, released in 1971 and inspired by some of the same movies then crowding the legendary dives of 42nd street. On its surface Straw Dogs is pure exploitation but its lasting power resides in Peckinpah’s transformation of those visceral grindhouse cliches into an appalling examination of human nature.
Straw Dogs begins with the seemingly benign introduction of David Sumner, a young man with an even younger wife, arriving in a tiny hamlet in the north of England,...
Blu-ray
Criterion
1971 / 1:85 / Street Date June 27, 2017
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Susan George
Cinematography: John Coquillon
Film Editors: Paul Davies, Tony Lawson, Roger Spottiswoode
Written by David Zelag Goodman and Sam Peckinpah
Produced by Daniel Melnick
Music: Jerry Fielding
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Adrift from civilization, an attractive young couple find themselves threatened, assaulted, and eventually compelled to defend themselves in a bloody showdown. That is the basic premise of Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs, released in 1971 and inspired by some of the same movies then crowding the legendary dives of 42nd street. On its surface Straw Dogs is pure exploitation but its lasting power resides in Peckinpah’s transformation of those visceral grindhouse cliches into an appalling examination of human nature.
Straw Dogs begins with the seemingly benign introduction of David Sumner, a young man with an even younger wife, arriving in a tiny hamlet in the north of England,...
- 7/15/2017
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Shout Factory opens the crypt once more, for the last remaining UA and Aip fright movies starring our favorite gentleman of horror. The label lays on the extras, with Steve Haberman commentaries and episodes of Science Fiction Theater. Now where are the Vincent Price cooking shows? The Vincent Price Collection III Master of the World, The Tower of London, Diary of a Madman, An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Scream (Shout!) Factory 1961-72 / B&W + Color / 1:85 & 1:66 widescreen / 420 min. / Street Date February 16, 2016 / 69.97 Starring Vincent Price Directed by William Witney, Roger Corman, Reginald Le Borg, Kenneth Johnson, Gordon Hessler.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream Factory now brings us Part Three of its Vincent Price collection, pretty much emptying the closet over at MGM. Not counting his twilight feature The Whales of August every Vincent Price film under the MGM banner will soon be out on Blu-ray.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream Factory now brings us Part Three of its Vincent Price collection, pretty much emptying the closet over at MGM. Not counting his twilight feature The Whales of August every Vincent Price film under the MGM banner will soon be out on Blu-ray.
- 2/27/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Vincent Price's diabolical surgeon produces a new breed of supermen, except that his latest 'composite' creation is also a serial-killing vampire. While the mayhem keeps the cops busy, the conspiracy spreads to a foreign dictatorship, where another composite is consolidating power through high-level murders. British agent Christopher Lee is ferreting out the conspiracy-- or is he part of it? Scream and Scream Again Blu-ray Twilight Time Limited Edition 1969 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 95 min. / Ship Date October 13, 2015 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Alfred Marks, Christopher Matthews, Judy Huxtable, Yutte Stensgaard, Anthony Newlands, Michael Gothard Cinematography John Coquillon Production Design Bill Constable Film Editor Peter Elliott Original Music David Whitaker Written by Christopher Wicking from a novel by Peter Saxon Produced by Louis M. Heyward, Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky Directed by Gordon Hessler
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream and Scream Again hangs in there as a genre curiosity,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream and Scream Again hangs in there as a genre curiosity,...
- 11/3/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
October 20th is yet another stellar week of horror and sci-fi home entertainment releases, all leading up to our favorite holiday: Halloween. One of my favorite films of all time, Ernest Dickerson’s Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, is finally making its way to HD via a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from Scream Factory. And as if that’s not enough, Scream is also busy with two more great releases this Tuesday as well—Bordello of Blood and The Larry Fessenden Collection.
Kino Lorber is reviving another cult classic on Tuesday too—The Oblong Box—which is based on the Edgar Allan Poe tale and co-stars two cinematic legends, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. For those of you Back to the Future fans out there (and really, who isn’t?), Universal is giving the series a few special releases in time for the film’s 30th anniversary and,...
Kino Lorber is reviving another cult classic on Tuesday too—The Oblong Box—which is based on the Edgar Allan Poe tale and co-stars two cinematic legends, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. For those of you Back to the Future fans out there (and really, who isn’t?), Universal is giving the series a few special releases in time for the film’s 30th anniversary and,...
- 10/20/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Scream favorites Vincent Price and Christopher Lee become tangled in an African curse, grave robbing, a premature burial and a clutch of throat-slashings -- yet the two stars have no real scenes together. Steve Haberman's well-researched and insightful commentary tells the story of Gordon Hessler's first production for the English arm of American-International Pictures, a movie planned to be directed by the mysterious Michael Reeves. The Oblong Box Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1969 / Color /1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date October 20, 2015 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Rupert Davies, Uta Levka, Sally Geeson, Alister Williamson, Peter Arne. Cinematography John Coquillon Original Music Harry Robertson Written by Lawrence Huntington, Christopher Wicking Produced by Gordon Hessler, Louis M. Heyward Directed by Gordon Hessler
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I've been doing my best to warm up to the filmic output of producer-director Gordon Hessler. I agree that Hessler's three major A.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I've been doing my best to warm up to the filmic output of producer-director Gordon Hessler. I agree that Hessler's three major A.
- 9/29/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Here's another installment featuring Joe Dante's reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments!
Post-production tampering mitigates against this Western by Sam Peckinpah finding its deserved reception from better-class audiences. Shortened release version is vague, confusing, and is being sold as routine action entry in saturation breaks where it should perform routinely, no more. Kris Kristofferson and acting debut of Bob Dylan provide youth lures. Rating: R.
“It feels like times have changed,” says Pat Garrett. “Times, maybe—not me," says Billy the Kid. A classical Sam Peckinpah exchange, reflecting one of the numerous obsessive themes that run through his latest Western. But times certainly haven’t changed for Peckinpah—for, despite the overdue success of his last venture, The Getaway, the embattled and iconoclastic director who revolutionized the Western with The Wild Bunch...
Post-production tampering mitigates against this Western by Sam Peckinpah finding its deserved reception from better-class audiences. Shortened release version is vague, confusing, and is being sold as routine action entry in saturation breaks where it should perform routinely, no more. Kris Kristofferson and acting debut of Bob Dylan provide youth lures. Rating: R.
“It feels like times have changed,” says Pat Garrett. “Times, maybe—not me," says Billy the Kid. A classical Sam Peckinpah exchange, reflecting one of the numerous obsessive themes that run through his latest Western. But times certainly haven’t changed for Peckinpah—for, despite the overdue success of his last venture, The Getaway, the embattled and iconoclastic director who revolutionized the Western with The Wild Bunch...
- 8/6/2015
- by Joe Dante
- Trailers from Hell
Here's another installment featuring Joe Dante's reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments!
Dustin Hoffman defends his home against murderous thugs in strong, violent melodrama with appeal to both discriminating trades and the blood- and-guts fans. Rating: R.
Director Sam Peckinpah’s fascination with violence as man’s most basic instinct finds new and disturbing expression in Straw Dogs, a difficult, harrowing film which is in essence a long, slow-burning fuse leading to an explosion of bloodshed. On the whole, the ABC Pictures Corp. production possesses a nightmare intensity few horror films could match, and this should be a factor in drawing both serious filmgoers and the mayhem-minded masses. As an action entry, the Cinerama release has the requisite sex and brutality to pull them in, while Dustin Hoffman’s presence an...
Dustin Hoffman defends his home against murderous thugs in strong, violent melodrama with appeal to both discriminating trades and the blood- and-guts fans. Rating: R.
Director Sam Peckinpah’s fascination with violence as man’s most basic instinct finds new and disturbing expression in Straw Dogs, a difficult, harrowing film which is in essence a long, slow-burning fuse leading to an explosion of bloodshed. On the whole, the ABC Pictures Corp. production possesses a nightmare intensity few horror films could match, and this should be a factor in drawing both serious filmgoers and the mayhem-minded masses. As an action entry, the Cinerama release has the requisite sex and brutality to pull them in, while Dustin Hoffman’s presence an...
- 7/9/2015
- by Joe Dante
- Trailers from Hell
As the undisputed king of American gothic, Vincent Price holds a unique position regarding his association with British horror. From the mid sixties, nearly all his films were made in the UK, and while not as distinguished as The House of Usher (1960), Tales of Terror (1962) and The Raven (1963), they are not without interest. As an actor perfectly suited to English gothic, Price’s output includes two career-defining performances. In a nutshell, he had the best of both worlds.
Masque of the Red Death (1964)
The British phase of his career began with a bang. After directing all of Price’s Poe chillers for American International Pictures, Roger Corman wanted to give the formula a fresh approach by making his next film in England. Aip’s Samuel Z Arkoff and James H Nicholson had already produced several European films, so the next step was to establish a London base with Louis M Heyward in charge.
Masque of the Red Death (1964)
The British phase of his career began with a bang. After directing all of Price’s Poe chillers for American International Pictures, Roger Corman wanted to give the formula a fresh approach by making his next film in England. Aip’s Samuel Z Arkoff and James H Nicholson had already produced several European films, so the next step was to establish a London base with Louis M Heyward in charge.
- 4/11/2014
- Shadowlocked
Although Hammer Films will always be associated with British horror, the studio did have stiff competition. Amicus specialised in the successful horror anthologies and Us counterparts American International Pictures established a permanent UK base in the mid sixties. Other smaller independents took their own bite from the cherry tree of horror with some success, the best known being Tigon Films.
Tigon has received some belated recognition in recent years. Andy Boot’s book on British horror Fragments of Fear devotes a chapter to the company while John Hamilton’s excellent book Beast in the Cellar covers the varied career of Tigon’s charismatic founder Tony Tenser.
Like Hammer’s Sir James Carreras, Tenser was one of the British Film Industry’s great entrepreneurs. Born in London to poor Lithuanian immigrants and a movie fan since childhood, he was an ambitious man with a natural talent for showmanship. Combining shrewd business...
Tigon has received some belated recognition in recent years. Andy Boot’s book on British horror Fragments of Fear devotes a chapter to the company while John Hamilton’s excellent book Beast in the Cellar covers the varied career of Tigon’s charismatic founder Tony Tenser.
Like Hammer’s Sir James Carreras, Tenser was one of the British Film Industry’s great entrepreneurs. Born in London to poor Lithuanian immigrants and a movie fan since childhood, he was an ambitious man with a natural talent for showmanship. Combining shrewd business...
- 2/18/2014
- Shadowlocked
Any film featuring either Christopher Lee or Boris Karloff is an instant must-see for horror fans. The two terror titans joined forces the first time in 1958′s Corridors Of Blood, a grimy graverobber/mad doctor opus that took place in 19th century England. Ten years later came their second and final collaboration, Curse Of The Crimson Cult (aka Curse Of The Crimson Altar or simply The Crimson Cult) and this time cult siren Barbara Steele, the reigning queen of horror, joined them as well. With this type of fright wattage, you’d expect Curse Of The Crimson Cult to be some sort of classic much-discussed by monster kids just for the cast alone (it’s even got Michael Gough!), but that’s not the case with this strange but confused brew of devil-worshipping, witches, creepy old mansions with secret passageways torture devices, and ritual sacrifices. It’s considered to be...
- 9/21/2011
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Mini-Review
When you think of Dustin Hoffman today, you do not think of an individual who is spineless and without the balls to defend his woman (Susan George), who made an ever-lasting impression in this film with her perky nipples and erotic display as the wife to Hoffman’s character, David Sumner.
Straw Dogsm directed in 1971 by Sam Peckinpah, starts with the basic concept of a couple moving to the village side to enjoy the quiet life. Building slowly from a seemingly calm opening act, Straw Dogs sees the aforementioned couple being put to the ultimate test to defend themselves against the violence that is set to destroy and violate them. Oozing sexual tension and male masculinity, this is a film worthy of Criterions Collection. Sadly, in less than a few months, we will get a remake to a film that never needed it.
Disc Review
At number 182 in the Criterion Collection,...
When you think of Dustin Hoffman today, you do not think of an individual who is spineless and without the balls to defend his woman (Susan George), who made an ever-lasting impression in this film with her perky nipples and erotic display as the wife to Hoffman’s character, David Sumner.
Straw Dogsm directed in 1971 by Sam Peckinpah, starts with the basic concept of a couple moving to the village side to enjoy the quiet life. Building slowly from a seemingly calm opening act, Straw Dogs sees the aforementioned couple being put to the ultimate test to defend themselves against the violence that is set to destroy and violate them. Oozing sexual tension and male masculinity, this is a film worthy of Criterions Collection. Sadly, in less than a few months, we will get a remake to a film that never needed it.
Disc Review
At number 182 in the Criterion Collection,...
- 8/21/2011
- by Jaffer Hasan
- SoundOnSight
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.